Billboard To Honor St. Beauty With American Express Impact Award

Billboard, the leading destination for charts, news, trends and innovations in music, and American Express announced today that Alex Belle and Isis Valentino of St. Beauty will receive the American Express Impact Award at the 13th annual Women in Music event on December 6 in New York City.

“We are thrilled to have trailblazer Janelle Monáe select this year’s American Express Impact Award winner, St. Beauty,” said Deb Curtis, Vice President of Experiential Marketing and Partnerships at American Express. “We recognize the importance of backing women in music who are making an impact not only on the industry itself, but also for other women.”

The American Express Impact Award recognizes impactful female artists who have paved the way for other women in the music industry and beyond. The Atlanta-based duo St. Beauty was hand-selected to win this award by previously announced Trailblazer Award recipient Janelle Monáe. With their music St. Beauty aims to heal and inspire others, and they often look to Monáe for guidance in navigating the music industry.

This is American Express’ sixth year partnering with Billboard for the annual Women in Music event, furthering the brand’s commitment to female musicians, executives and entrepreneurs who are making an impact in the industry. Grammy Award-winning artist, Solange, received the inaugural American Express Impact Award in 2017.

Ariana Grande (Woman of the Year), Janelle Monáe (Trailblazer Award), Cyndi Lauper (Icon Award), and SZA (Rule Breaker Award) have already been announced as honorees at the star-studded event, which also honors the most powerful female executives in the industry.

The 13th annual Women in Music event is produced by Don Mischer Productions. The red-carpet pre-show will be broadcast live on Twitter, 7pm-10pm EST on December 6. The 2018 event is sponsored by American Airlines, American Express, Fiji Water, Honda Stage and Nielsen Music.

ABOUT AMERICAN EXPRESS:American Express is a globally integrated payments company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, instagram.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.

ABOUT BILLBOARD MEDIA GROUP:Billboard is the world’s largest voice in music, built on the most complete and well-respected database of charts across all music genres. The Billboard charts define success in music. From the iconic Billboard magazine to Billboard.com, the ultimate consumer-facing destination for millions of passionate music fans, to the industry’s most elite conference series and influencer events including the Power 100 and Women in Music – the Billboard brand has unmatched authority among fans, artists and the industry alike. Billboard has a social media footprint of 25.5M+ million social followers across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, and creates more than 160M+ cross-platform video views per month. Billboard magazine has published major news-generating covers recently including Travis Scott, Zayn, Janet Jackson, Lil Wayne, Demi Lovato, Cardi B, Christina Aguilera, Eminem, DJ Khaled, Shakira, BTS, and an open letter to Congress signed by 180+ of the music industry’s biggest stars and executives. In December 2017, the Billboard Women in Music ceremony, which honored Selena Gomez as Woman of the Year, was live-streamed globally on Twitter.

In 2016, The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group acquired Spin Media’s storied music assets Spin, Vibe, and Stereogum, establishing the world’s largest music brand by digital traffic, social reach, and audience share. The combined entity of music and entertainment properties now reaches 41 Million + unique visitors and more than 20% of U.S. millennials.

If I had to explain Big Ced in one word I would decline to answer. Someone as ever-changing, ever-growing, ever-learning, as Big Ced can’t be colored with one box of crayons.
I have known Ced for about two-thirds of my life and in each phase he has challenged himself to do something NEW! Fearless, honest, talented, and real (not in any order) Ced is Hip-Hop;Ced is entertainment; Ced is the one-percent of decent human beings in a business that constantly attempts to compromise your moral foundation. Ced is a producer (Bet not many know that) Writer…Speaker and perpetual student.
Big Ced is a brother…a friend…a leader and a teacher! To those who know him, Big Ced is a blessing!

Pudgee Tha Phat BastardCEODefinition oF SoundNew York, NY

“Big CED is a stand up dude who has always helped me in securing coverage for the artists and projects I’m working on” – @brokencool

brokencoolPublicist/Writerbrokensocial inc.Toronto, Canada

‘I have known Big Ced for many years and he has always been not only the consummate professional and an admirable go-getter, but a dear friend on whose support I could always count. Professionally or personally, Ced is someone you want on your team!’

Nancy ByronOwnerO.G.P.R.Houston, TX

The Best GUY Ever.

Janice I.TorresOwnerTHE BRAND PHOENIX, INC.New York, NY

BIG CED is an anomaly. If I’m being frank, I have no idea how to describe what he does for a living. Is he a party promoter? A writer? An industry socialite? Probably all of the above. He’s basically Tommy from “Martin.” We know he works, but where?! What I do know for sure is that BIG CED is kind, he’s reliable, he’s got a winning smile and everyone in the biz has him on their NYC invite list. And I am glad to know him. Keep on truckin’ BIG CED!

Tynicka BattleCEO & FounderTynicka Battle DigitalPrinceton, NJ

Big Ced is “the Guy named Sam” who tried to play MC Lyte, when she should’ve been my girl. He seems to have gotten his act together after the ensuing beatdown, and is now a respected voice in Hip Hop culture with 20+ years of delivering biting content and social commentary across all aspects of popular culture

I honestly don’t know for sure. He is someone I crossed paths with over 20 years ago as I started my career in this black entertainment industry. He was the first person to offer me a feature profiling me as a new member of the industry on The Industry Co-Sign. He was and is funny, crazy, annoying overzealous, overbearingly braggadocios about his appearance in the MC Lyte video back in the day. He is someone with whom you never skip a beat; no matter how long it’s been since the last time you’ve clasped hands or shared a warm hello. It’s as if you’re picking up a conversation from yesterday. He never forgets you for an invitation to a birthday party (not sure if that’s a money making scheme or not) but he makes sure that your name is on the list. Seemingly a touch self-centered, he’s just extremely aware of his worth and knows that this industry always deserves better. He is a veritable living, breathing archive of urban entertainment history. His lisp is ever present; his laugh is contagious; he is always smiling. An all-around good person to know. Well connected (and we’re talking real connections here not just social media) and willing to share those connections with you. Because he knows that’s how we move forward. Together. I’m happy to know him in as much as I do. And although I know I don’t see him often, I’m positive he’ll never treat me like a stranger. Ever.